Modular tyre liner

Abstract

There is provided a piece for a modular tyre liner, the piece being planar and generally rectangular and cut to define: a key head and a key hole, the key head configured for insertion into an associated key hole of an adjacent piece for engagement in use to form a mechanical interlock with the adjacent piece and wherein the key head and a key hole are configured for allowing movement of the piece with respect to the adjacent piece along the length of the liner in use.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A modular inner tyre liner formed from a plurality of pieces, each piece comprising:
 a key head; and 
 a key hole, the key hole having a T-shaped cross-section, the T-shaped cross-section having a lengthwise slot orientated toward the key head and a perpendicular cross slot, wherein 
 the key head of a first piece of the plurality of pieces is configured for insertion into an associated key hole of a first adjacent piece of the plurality of pieces for engagement in use to form a mechanical interlock with the first adjacent piece; 
 the key head and the key hole are configured for allowing movement of the first piece with respect to the first adjacent piece along a length of the liner; 
 the first piece is configured for connection to the first adjacent piece by bending the key head of the first piece along an elongate axis thereof and by inserting the bent key head through the lengthwise slot of the first adjacent piece; and 
 when the key head of the first piece is inserted into the key hole of the first adjacent piece, and the key head of the first adjacent piece is inserted into the key hole of a second adjacent piece of the plurality of pieces, the key head of the first piece is sandwiched between portions of the first adjacent piece and the second adjacent piece. 
 
     
     
       2. The modular inner tyre liner as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cross slot has a length orthogonal to the elongate axis of approximately 22 mm. 
     
     
       3. The modular inner tyre liner as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the key head has a length along the elongate axis less than a length of the lengthwise slot along the elongate axis. 
     
     
       4. The modular inner tyre liner as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cross slot has a width along the elongate axis of approximately 6 mm. 
     
     
       5. The modular inner tyre liner as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of pieces comprises a width of approximately 70 mm and a breadth of approximately 40 mm. 
     
     
       6. The modular inner tyre liner as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a key neck formed at a point along the elongate axis of each of the plurality of pieces formed by cutouts in from opposite side edges thereof, thereby dividing each of the plurality of pieces into the key head and an insertion tab section and an insertion section. 
     
     
       7. The modular inner tyre liner as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the key neck has a length orthogonal to the elongate axis less than that of the cross slot. 
     
     
       8. The modular inner tyre liner as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the length of the key neck is approximately 20 mm. 
     
     
       9. The modular inner tyre liner as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the cross slot is spaced away from the key neck further than a length of the key head along the elongate axis.